Fiee escape



0. G. LEE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

No. 320,664. Patented June 23, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OGDEN G. LEE, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,664, dated June 23,1885.

Application filed July 14, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OGDEN G. LEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, for which noapplication for a patent in any country has been n1ade,of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fireescapes. It consists of asuitable metal frame in combination with a rope clasped by a brake and adrum or cylinder,around which the rope takes one turn, substantially asdescribed.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and reliablefire-escape, by means of which one or more persons can safely lowerthemselves from the window or roof of a burning building with perfectease and safety.

Like letters indicate like parts in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a front View of my fire-escape in the plane of the actionof the brakelevers,in which A represents the metal frame;

B, the drum or cylinder firmly riveted to the sides of the frame, uponwhich is a guidepin, B, which prevents the rope from riding; O, thebrackets, to which are attached the straps D D, which sustain the persondescending. E and F show the arms of the brakes; G, the rope. H showsthepivotal point of the brakes, which is on the left of center.

Fig. 2 shows a side view partially stripped of its outer frame, with thebrake opened.

Fig. 3 shows one of the brakes detached, E showing the groove throughwhich the rope G passes, and E the cam that impinges the rope and holdsthe escape firmly when the brake is pressed together by the hand,as at00 w. Fig. at shows one-half of brake F, with its groove F and ears E,into which the cam E of the other brake fits, all sustained in the lowerend of the frame A by the bolt H, upon which the brake freely swings,and when pressed together it embraces the rope firmly, so that thedescent may be regulated easily with one hand.

Fig. 5 is a clamp, which may be applied at 00 w in Fig. 1 to set theescape upon the rope at any desired point, and hold it in such position,thus releasing the hands of the person on the escape and enabling him touse both his hands for any purpose that he may desire.

The operation of my escape is as follows: One end of the rope is passedup through the groove of the brake one turn around the drum B and out ofthe frame A at the top; then this end is fastened securely to thebuilding; then the person or persons to descend seat themselves upon theweb-seat or strap D D, grasping the brake E F with one hand at x w, and,pressing them together, swing clear of the building; then by slackeninghis grip upon the brake he will begin to descend, and he can control hisdescent with the pressure of one hand. The brake, when pressed together,so encloses the rope in their grooves that no friction from the ropewill reach the hand of the operator. It will also be seen that a veryslight pressure of the hand applied to the brake adds largely to thefriction around the drum or cylinder and adapts the escape to anyreasonable weight, thus enabling two or three to make the descent atonce. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to procureLetters Patent for, 1s

In a fire-escape, the brake E and F,in combination with the rope, thefriction-cylinder, and guide-pin 13, substantially as described andshown.

OGDEN G. LEE. lVitnesses:

F. W. PUGSLEY, K. J. LAWLOR.

